1997 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

NO SUMMARY

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTORS FAILED RESULTING IN DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER DETACHING.

HEADLIGHT LENS' HAVE CONSTANT MOISTURE IN BOTH LENS, THEY FREEZE AT NIGHT AND EVENTUALLY THE BULBS WILL MELT THE ICE, BUT LIGHTING IS DISTORTED. I'VE REPORTED THIS 4 TIMES TO DEALER. THE 1ST TIME, THEY REPLACED ONE LENS AND AFTER FURTHER COMPLAINTS, THEIR COMMENTS WERE "CHEVROLET WON'T AUTHORIZE REPLACEMENT ANY MORE REPLACEMENTS" SO THEY TAKE OFF THE LENS AND WIPING THEM DRY. THAT LASTS UNTIL THE NEXT RAIN. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING IN FREEZING RAIN AND FOG. THEY NEVER SEEM TO DRY OUT.

AFTER WASHING MY 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU I NOTICED THAT BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS WERE CONDENSATED COVERING 75% OF BOTH LENSES. VECHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHEN I PICKED UP THE VECHILE I WAS TOLD THAT WAS A NORMAL CONDITION AND I WAS TO DRIVE THE VECHILE FOR 2 TO 6 HRS WITH THE LIGHTS ON TO CORRECT IT. I PRIMARILY DRIVE THIS CAR FOR VACATIONS AND I ALWAYS HAVE THE CAR WASHED WHEN I REACH MY DESTINATION. AFTER DRIVING MANY HOURS, IT IS LUDICROUS TO THINK THAT I WOULD WANT TO DRIVE FOR EVEN ONE MORE HOUR. I FEEL THAT IT IS A DEFECT, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS NOT TO OPERATE AT 100% CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS 1-800 NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING THAT THE DEALER TOLD ME. I FEEL THAT THE EXPLANATION IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND CAUSES AN UNSAFE CONDITION. BOTH G M AND THE DEALER REFERED TO THEIR BULLETIN NUMBER 638206A. II WAS ALSO GIVEN A NUMBER FROM G M (990079295).

WATER GOES INTO THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH WAS TURNED FROM DELAYED TO LOW, AND LEFT WIPER WENT OVER TO RIGHT SIDE, AND RIGHT WIPER JUST STOPPED WORKING. WIPERS BROKE, SMOKE FROM MOTOR THAT BURNED OUT, CAME FROM UNDERHOOD. DEALER CONTACTED, AND WARRANTY WILL REMEDY PROBLEM. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION....

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THE CONSUMR REPLACED BRAKES ONCE ALREADY, AND NEEDS TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AGAIN. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY MAKE A HIGH SQUEAKY SOUND. MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED.

MOISTURE OR WATER FORMS IN THE HEADLIGHT CASING AND IN THE BULB AREA, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME DIM OR FOGGY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER SEALED THE CASING WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN IT IS TO MAKE REPLACEMENT.*AK.ET.

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED.

TAIL LIGHT FAILED. *YC

TRANSMISSION SEAL FAILED. YH

RESISTOR FAILED. NLM

FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT FAILED. YH

GLOVE COMPARTMENT WOULD NOT CLOSE AND WOULD NOT LOCK SINCE NEW. YH

FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE PREMATURLEY WEARING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. *AK.ET.

TURN SIGNAL CONTROL FAILED.

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OR ACCIDENT. CONSUMER THINKS IT MAY BE THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM, BUT NO WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. NAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

DISC BRAKE PADS FAILED AT 22K AND AGAIN AT 34K. DEALER BLAMES PAD QUALITY BUT WILL NOT WARRANTY. CENTER HINGE ON REAR FOLD DOWN SEATS HAS ALSO FAILED TWICE.

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

ONE MONTH AFTER I LEASED THIS VEHICLE, I BEGAN TO HAVE AN IGNITION PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. ONCE THE KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, IT WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER IN ORDER TO START THE CAR, THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD FLASHES AND THE KEY CANNOT BE PULLED OUT. THE IGNITION CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER NOT INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL ONE. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED 7 TIMES. THE FIRST THREE TIMES I WAS PREGNANT. THE REST OF THE TIME, I HAD MY INFANT SON IN THE CAR OR WAS ON MY WAY TO PICKING HIM UP FROM DAY CARE. WHEN I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER, THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO WAIT AT LEAST 15 - 30 MINUTES AND IF THAT DID NOT WORK, THEN I WAS TO CALL THE TOWING SERVICE. I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN MANY PARKING LOTS AND MOST RECENTLY, ON CHRISTMAS DAY I WAS STUCK IN NEW YORK STATE. I HAVE FILED WITH THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY'S LEMON LAW UNIT, AND HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, PER THEIR INSTRUCTION. I HAVE LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND MY "ASSIGNED" REP. HAS YET TO RETURN MY PHONE CALLS. THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE BECAUSE I PAYING $300 A MONTH FOR A CAR THAT I NEVER KNOW WHEN OR IF IT WILL NOT START. I AM, PARTICULARLY, AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AT NIGHT. I CANNOT COMPREHEND HOW THREE DIFFERENT PARTS, IGNITION CYLINDERS, CAN ALL BE DEFECTIVE. *AK

RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED. YH

WHILE DRIVING, SIGNAL LIGHTS DO NOT WORK (NOT ALWAYS, NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL HAVE THEM. SERVICE DEPT. REPLACED SWITCH, NOW IT IS WORSE. NEVER HAPPENS TO SERVICE WHEN THEY HAVE THE CAR.

CONTROL ARMS FAILED.

BRAKE SYSTEM: I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ON 7/13/98 THAT THERE WAS A RUBBING/SQUEAKING SOUND WHEN DEPRESSING AND RELEASING BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM SOUND. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM AGAIN ON 9/16/98. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE GROOVED. THE DEALER RESURFACED THE ROTORS AND APPLIED STOP SQUEAL TO THE PADS. LESS THAN TWO MONTHS FROM THIS SERVICE, THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED. RETURNING TO DEALER FOR SERVICE ON 11/11/98. SUSPENSION: I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT CLUNKING SOUND WHEN HITTING BUMPS OR GAPS IN ROAD SURFACE AND OF LOW PITCH WHIRRING NOISE IN FRONT WHEEL AREA (AUDIBLE AT SPEEDS OF 20-25 MPH). FIRST REPORTED PROBLEM OF CLUNKING SOUND TO DEALER ON 7/13/98. DEALER ATTRIBUTED NOISE TO LOOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY AND REPLACEDIT. THIS PROBLEM RECURRED AND WAS AGAIN REPORTED TO DEALER ON 9/16/98. DEALER REPLACED LOWER FRONT ARM ASSEMBLY. PROBLEM HAS RECURRED. RETURNING TO DEALER FOR SERVICE ON 11/11/98.

WE DID NOT PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER UPON RENTAL I EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES RUBBING. WE REPORTED THIS TO THE FACILITY WHERE IT WAS RENTED AND WAS ASSURED THIS VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED. WE THEN TOOK SAID VEHICLE TO THE MOUNTAINS AND THE BRAKES WENT METAL TO METAL. UPON MY RETURN TO THE AGENCY I MADE A COMPLAINT AND WAS TREATED UNFAIRLY. WE THEN WENT TO COURT. RAFFIELD TIRE MASTER TESTIFIED THAT THE CHEVY MALIBU IN QUESTION WAS NOTORIOUS FOR BRAKE SOUNDS AND RUBBING AND THAT THE PARTS WERE CONSISTENTLY ON BACK ORDER. WE WANT THIS VERIFIED AND PUT A STOP TO THESE PEOPLE TRYING TO TAKE OTHERS FOR A RIDE AND FREE BRAKE REPAIR. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN LITIGATION OVER THE DEPOSIT AGAINST SO-CALLED DAMAGES TO SAID VEHICLE. WE WON THE CASE IN MAGISTRATE, BUT THEY HAVE APPEALED TO THE STATE COURT.

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH IGNITION SWITCH. INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WOULD START AND SOMETIMES WOULD BE UNABLE TO START. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED AND REPAIRED IGNITION SWITCH, BUT PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK

TIRESFAILURE. *AK

ELECTRICAL WIRING FAILURES CAUSING THE DASH LIGHTS AND POWER WINDOW TO FAIL.

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING HOSES NOT HOLDING UP PROPERLY. THE HOSES WERE REPLACED AND REPAIRED. BOTH TIMES THE HOSES FAILED TO HOLD, CAUSING STEERING LOCK UP DUE TO LOSS OF FLUID. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND WERE WILLING TO REPAIR UNTIL WARRANTY RAN OUT. *AK

ALL ELECTRICAL GAUGES ON THE VEHICLE JUST DIE OUT. NO PRIOR INDICATION OR WARNING, VEHICLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF. VEHICLE BEING TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES PRIOR. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

FRONT BRAKE PADS NEED REPLACEMENT DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR. VEHICLE HAS LOW MILEAGE, DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

A/C IS LEAKING FREON, AND DEALER IS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE LEAKS OR PROBLEM. *AK

ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURRED. DEALER CONTACTED ON NUMEROUS TIMES, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

VEHICLE SURGES, AND RPMS JUMP UP AND DOWN, CAUSING THE ABS TO KICK IN AND ROLL FORWARD, HAPPENED TWO TIMES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND ARE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

REPEATED BRAKE AND ROTOR FAILURE.

VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THE FRONT END CLUNKS. DEALER STATED THAT THE OWNER OVER-INFLATED THE TIRES, RIDES THE BRAKES WHICH WARPED THE ROTORS. OWNER'S COMPANY HAVE TWO VEHICLES WHICH EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM.

WINDSHIELD FAILED CAUSING IT TO CRACK.

BRAKE LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAD EXCESSIVE CLEARANCE, DAMAGED JOINTS. ROTORS OUT OF ROUND CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATIONS UPON BRAKING.

THE DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY AND AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER REPLACE BRAKE PADS/ROTORS/MASTER CYLINDER AND THE WIRING HARNESS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE PROBLEMS. *AK

RIGHT FRONT BRAKE PAD BURNED AND DAMAGED THE ROTOR. NEW VEHICLE WITH 16,856 MILES.

BRAKE PROBLEMS; THE BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED ONCE AND REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE OF WARPING. TURNED ON 3/6/98 WITH 14,574 MILES.; REPLACED ON 4/30/98 WITH 18, 225 MILES, AND 7/31/98 WITH 25, 039. WHEN APPLYNG THE BRAKES, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD PULSATE AND SHAKE. *AK

INADVERTENT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.

REAR SEATBACK IS FALLING TO THE FLOORBOARD DUE TO A RETAINER MISSING FROM THE SEAT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED CLIPS, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS,.CONSUMER THEREFORE CONTACTED A SECOND DEALER, DEALER STATED THAT RETAINER WAS MISSING BEFORE VEHICLE LEFT THE ASSEMBLY LINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 60 MPH FENDER SKIRTS FELL OFF FOR NO REASON. VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCESWIRING PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH ABS LIGHT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 40 PMH DRIVER STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE, THE BRAKES MADE NOISE LIKE GRINDING METAL TO METAL SOUND, AND VEHICLE STOPPED A FEW INCHES AWAY. ALSO CONSUMER SAID THAT HE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE , ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. HE HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES MANY TIMES BEFORE. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED. *AK

RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT SOCKET AND BULB MELTED DUE TO THE HEAT GENERATED INSIDE THE UNIT.

ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AT LEAST THREE TIMES PER WEEK BUT DEALERS CANNOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND FIND ANYTHING WRONG.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD, A VERY LOUD NOISE COMES FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. ON 6/9/98 THE CONTROL ARMS WERE WELDEDTO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE OWNER IS STILL EXPERIENCING A PROLBEM WITH THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES AND STEERING ALL OF A SUDDEN LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HAD HAPPENED SO THEY WERE TRYING TO FIX THE COMPUTER. WHEN THE DRIVER DROVE AGAIN THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. *AK

DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR VIBRATES AT ALL SPEEDS OBSTRUCTING VIEW ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEEDS, ALL ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY HAVE FAILED, DEALER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND BOTH REFUSE FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR.